Implementing investment research phase 2 of Cao Lanh

Map of Cao Lanh - An Huu expressway phase 1.

The Ministry of Construction has just sent an official dispatch to the People's Committee of Dong Thap province regarding the implementation of investment research for phase 2 of the Cao Lanh - An Huu expressway construction project.

According to the Road Network Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Hong Ngu - Tra Vinh Expressway (CT.36) has its starting point at Dinh Ba Border Gate and its ending point in Tra Vinh (including 3 sections: Dinh Ba Border Gate - Cao Lanh, Cao Lanh - An Huu and An Huu - Tra Vinh) with a total expected length of about 188 km, a scale of 4 lanes and an investment process before 2030.

Regarding the Dinh Ba - Cao Lanh Border Gate construction investment project, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has approved the assignment of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee as the investment management agency; at the same time, the Ministry of Construction has also sent a document requesting Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee to implement it.

For the Cao Lanh - An Huu section construction investment project (phase 1), based on the results of transportation demand forecast and the process of preparing the Pre-Feasibility Study Report, the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) directed the study of many options on investment scale.

Based on the opinions of ministries, branches and localities (People's Committees of Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces, now Dong Thap province), the Ministry of Construction has carefully analyzed and evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of each option, in the context of limited state resources, to match the ability to balance capital sources and ensure the effectiveness of project investment.

The Ministry of Construction has issued Document No. 5239/TTr-BGTVT dated May 26, 2022 on the project's pre-feasibility study report, which was appraised by the Interdisciplinary Appraisal Council chaired by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (now the Ministry of Finance) and approved by the Prime Minister for the project investment policy.

Specifically, the project is about 27.4 km long, the investment scale of phase 1 is 4 limited lanes (roadbed width 17 m), preliminary total investment of 7,496 billion VND, divided into 2 component projects with Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee as the investment management agency.

Regarding the study of investment in phase 2 expansion, the Ministry of Construction said that according to the preliminary research results of the People's Committee of Dong Thap province in Report No. 356/BC-UBND dated July 31, 2025 sent to the Prime Minister, the total investment in phase 2 (expanding the roadbed from 17 m to 24.75 m to meet the technical standards of a complete 4-lane expressway, design speed of 100 km/h) is about 4,600 billion VND.

Currently, the Cao Lanh - An Huu section construction investment project has not completed phase 1 (expected to be completed in April 2026) and has used up almost all of the approved total investment, not enough to invest in phase 2.

Therefore, in case the People's Committee of Dong Thap province chooses to implement phase 2 investment according to the plan to supplement phase 1, it will have to adjust the investment policy; the order and procedures for deciding to adjust the project investment policy are prescribed in Clause 3, Article 37 of the Law on Public Investment No. 57/2024/QH15.

Regarding the dossier, order, procedures and contents of adjusting the project investment policy, the Ministry of Construction requests the People's Committee of Dong Thap province to direct the assigned unit to implement according to the provisions of Article 14 of Decree No. 85/2025/ND-CP dated April 8, 2025 of the Government and other relevant regulations.

In case the People's Committee of Dong Thap province chooses the investment implementation plan for phase 2 as a new project, the Ministry of Construction proposes to study the provisions of Articles 25, 26, 28 of the Public Investment Law No. 57/2024/QH15 and Article 7 of Law No. 90/2025/QH15 for implementation; the content of the project pre-feasibility study report or the project investment proposal report shall comply with the provisions of Articles 34 and 35 of the Public Investment Law No. 57/2024/QH15 (depending on whether the project is group A or B).

In addition, because the investment phase 1 of the project has not yet completed the investment phase, during the research process for investment phase 2, the Ministry of Construction requested the People's Committee of Dong Thap province to carefully study the following contents: forecasting transportation demand, ensuring traffic safety and clearly analyzing the necessity of investing immediately in phase 2.

Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee needs to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of implementing phase 2 investment when phase 1 has not been completed; whether it is necessary to adjust the design of phase 1, whether it is necessary to demolish the completed construction items, whether it is related to the warranty period of the completed project in phase 1 or not...; especially clarify the ability to balance and arrange capital.

The People's Committee of Dong Thap province, assigned as the governing body for the Cao Lanh - An Huu Expressway Construction Investment Project, needs to proactively research and implement it, ensuring compliance with legal regulations and preventing loss and waste according to regulations and instructions of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Notice No. 383/TB-VPCP dated July 24, 2025 of the Government Office.

“In case of difficulties or problems during the implementation process, please send specific documents to relevant ministries and branches for guidance. The Ministry of Construction is ready to request the Ministry's functional units to support and handle the matter according to their functions and tasks,” the Ministry of Construction's official dispatch stated.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/trien-khai-nghien-cuu-dau-tu-giai-doan-2-du-an-cao-toc-cao-lanh---an-huu-d385481.html